This publication is part of a series of results from Census 2022. More thematic publications will be published throughout 2023 as outlined in the Census 2022 Publication Schedule.
The question on caring in Census 2022 sought to identify people who provided regular unpaid personal help or support to a family member, neighbour or friend with a long-term illness, health issue or an issue related to old age or disability.
The percentage of the total population providing regular unpaid care increased to 6% in 2022, up from 4% in 2011 and 2016.
Between 2016 and 2022, the number of people providing regular unpaid care increased by over 50%, from 195,263 people in 2016 to 299,128 in 2022.
A greater proportion of unpaid care was provided by females compared with males. In 2022, 61% (181,592) of carers were female and 39% (117,536) were male.
These proportions were similar in 2016 and 2011.
In 2022, almost two-thirds (64%) of carers were aged between 40 and 64 years.
The highest percentage of carers were aged 50 to 54 years (15%), followed by 14% in each of the 45 to 49 and 55 to 59 years age groups.
A further 15% of all unpaid carers were aged 65 years or over.
Looking at five year age groups, there was a higher proportion of female carers between the ages 30 to 59 years (68%) than male carers (63%).
Across other age groups, there were proportionately more male than female carers although it should be noted that in almost every age group, there were higher numbers of female than male carers.
The number of hours spent caring as reported by unpaid carers on their census form changed between 2016 and 2022.
In 2022, almost half (46%) of carers provided up to 14 hours of unpaid help per week compared with 43% in 2016.
The percentage of carers who provided between 15 and 28 hours of unpaid care decreased from 16% in 2016 to 14% in 2022.
A decrease was also recorded in the proportion of carers providing 29 to 42 hours of unpaid help per week (8% in 2016 to 6% in 2022).
In contrast, the proportion of carers providing unpaid care for 43 hours or more increased from 21% in 2016 to 29% in 2022.
In general, male carers tended to provide fewer hours of unpaid help than female carers.
Greater proportions of males (49%) provided unpaid care for up to 14 hours per week compared with females (44%).
Unpaid help was provided for 43 hours or more per week by 31% of female carers compared with 26% of male carers.
Looking at five year age groups, male unpaid carers at almost all ages were more likely to provide between 1 and 14 hours of care than their female equivalents.
Among male carers aged 30 to 34 years, 46% provided unpaid help for up to 14 hours per week; the proportion for female carers in this age group was 38%.
In some of the younger age groups, greater proportions of males than females tended to provide unpaid care for between 29 and 42 hours per week.
However, among those who provided more than 43 hours of unpaid help per week, female carers had higher proportions in almost all age groups.
This was particularly apparent in the 30 to 34 years age group where the proportion for females was 37% compared with only 23% for male carers.
In 2022, the number of carers aged under 15 years was 4,759, or 2% of the carers in the State.
This represented an increase of 959 since 2016 when the number of young carers was 3,800, also 2% of carers.
More than half (2,634) of these young carers provided up to 14 hours of unpaid help per week (or 2 hours per day); a similar proportion (55%) was recorded in 2016.
A further 13% provided between 15 and 28 hours of unpaid care weekly. By comparison, 7% of carers aged under 15 provided the same hours of unpaid help in 2016.
In 2022, twice as many young carers provided 43 or more hours of unpaid care per week (12%) compared with 2016 (6%).
The proportion of the population who provided regular unpaid care varied from county to county, ranging from 5% in Dublin City to 7% in Mayo.
Other counties with relatively high proportions of unpaid regular carers included Leitrim, Sligo and Galway County, each recorded 7%.
At just over 5%, Galway City, Fingal, Kildare and Meath were among other counties containing lower proportions of unpaid carers.
The counties with the highest proportions of carers aged under 15 years were Leitrim and Offaly.
Among all persons aged 85 years and over, the percentage who were unpaid carers ranged from 2% in Roscommon to 4% in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown.
Among carers aged 15 years and over, 167,794 (57%) were at work.
The equivalent proportions in 2016 and 2011 were 51% and 49%, respectively.
The number of carers who were unemployed fell between 2011 and 2022 and accounted for 4% of all carers aged 15 years and over in 2022, compared with 10% in 2011.
There were decreases in the proportion of people aged over 15 who provided unpaid care and were looking after the home/family (16%), compared with 20% in 2011.
In 2022, 4% of carers aged 15 years and over were unable to work due to permanent sickness or disability, these proportions were similar in 2016 and 2011.
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